AS ONE of the Boro’s best ever goalscorers, Gazette columnist Bernie Slaven is more qualified than most to cast an analytical eye over the club’s strikers.

Gareth Southgate’s five front men scored 23 times between them this term in a campaign of hits and misses that saw winger Stewart Downing finish top scorer.

Here the Scotsman gives his verdict on the contributions made by Boro’s attacking quintet.

TUNCAY SANLI (Eight goals)

HE took time to settle but playing on the right wing didn’t do him any favours.

He was also taken off regularly but had a pedigree for scoring goals when he arrived from Turkey.

When he came into the middle he was a revelation. He scored about five goals in as many games and his volley at Derby was arguably the goal of the season.

He is deceptively quick and his work ethic is top drawer. And the biggest compliment I can pay him is that he looks as though he enjoys his football.

It’s refreshing to see in the modern age of grumpy millionaires.

Sanli and Alves look like being a partnership that has got goals in it. The important thing is that they have to be given a run of games - at least 14 or so - to gel.

Football is an unfair world in a way because managers give strikers a few games and they are out on their ears, whereas all the great centre halves are partnerships that are given a year, two years to knit together.

AFONSO ALVES (Six goals)

HE has made limited appearances but an impressive impact.

When he first came people were doubting his ability.

He seemed almost casual, was well off the pace, didn’t really get any chances and his touch was off.

He isn’t great in the air and it looks like he still needs to work on his touch. But as the weeks went on he got in the groove and came up with a brilliant return.

The biggest compliment you can give him is that he hasn’t blasted any of his goals. He is ice cool when it matters and that’s a gift.

We haven’t had anyone get well into double figures for a long time.

Can he do that? Without a doubt. If we get the midfield sorted and provide him with regular service, he will score the goals.

JEREMIE ALIADIERE (Five goals)

THE Frenchman is a very good player. He is good on the eye, works hard and creates goals. The problem is he doesn’t score enough of them, which illustrates why he shouldn’t be a centre forward.

If he was a goalscorer, he would still be at Arsenal.

But his ability still merits a place in the team. He can play on the right because he has the pace to get past people and get to the byline to whip crosses in.

He has also got the engine to get back and help out Luke Young defensively.

I just think he rushes things in front of goal, scuffs the ball and panics - none of those are the signs of a natural finisher.

MIDO (Two goals)

HE came with a reputation of having more clubs than Tiger Woods and being injury prone.

And you can see why because he has lived up to that billing.

You sympathise with any player who gets injured, but it was there for all to see that he put weight on when he suffered his pubic bone injury.

We’re now in an era of dietitians, sports scientists and all the fancy technology.

Players shouldn’t even be a pound overweight.

He scored two goals in his first two games, but the one he got at Fulham anybody’s granny would have scored.

He can look cumbersome and not the best technically but is good in the air and can give Boro something different when things aren’t going to plan.

Next season is a big test for him professionally and personally and he needs to show something.

The £6m fee was a big outlay for him and he has to motivate himself and live up to that price tag.

DONG-GOOK LEE (Two goals)

AS everybody knows, it’s a fine line between success and failure, and especially in football.

He had a couple of good efforts early in his Boro career when he hit the woodwork but never really got the rub of the green.

He slipped well down the pecking order and his confidence was shot and that’s a difficult position to be in for any player.

There have been plenty of better players whose moves haven’t worked out when they have gone abroad.

It didn’t happen for Dennis Bergkamp at Inter Milan, but he went on to become a legend at Arsenal.

And look at Jon Dahl Tommason. He was a flop at Newcastle, but ended up at AC Milan.

He is obviously not in that calibre, but has a good record in internationals.

We didn’t see a flicker from him here, but he will find his level and good luck to him wherever he goes.